To think this was rude?

[MrsNightOwl]

My friend has been there for me through thick and thin, and has helped me through many dark times in my life. Recently her car became a write off - she was upset because she needed it to get to and from work 30 miles away and couldn't afford to buy a new one. As it happens, I've been trying to sell my second car for ages (a cheap banger, but runs amazingly well) so to help her out I told her she could have it for nothing - she graciously accepted.

A week later, and I've just got a text from her asking for the tenner back that she lent me in the supermarket when I didn't have enough to pay for my shopping. I'd totally forgotten about it.

AIBU to be annoyed that she would ask, when I've given her a free car?

Who could be so skint that they can't afford the transport costs to get to work?

I used to be paid weekly but had monthly rent/bills. One week a month I was skint. If the days fell really badly, I'd be choosing between a weekly bus pass or food. Fortunately for me, work was within walking distance (about an hour) and I was young, fit and healthy.

Has anyone here ever been given a car so cheap it couldn't be sold but was a 'good runner'? The sentiment might be nice but the reality is they are debt traps First off she would had had to tax and insure the car. Then how long before an MOT which is probably going to cost an arm and a leg. And thats before the inevitable breakdowns etc. Far from being a boom these cheap as chips cars are a curse.

Sounds like the woman whilst not liking it would have been better off on a bus.

She'd no intention of getting the bus, though. She had op doing unpaid taxi runs.

I'm officially the worst friend in the world since she came round earlier with a chocolate and wine hamper for me.

Not so skint, then?

Wine hamper? I'm more confused now than ever - that can't have been cheap.

How can she need that tenner back when she can afford to buy you a hamper?!

She could have bought it on a credit card, or won it? Maybe she needed the cash? When I'm desperate I can squeeze stuff onto a card but can't get cash

Eh? Why has she done that? Did she say anything? Did she link this with the £10?

Maybe she saw this thread?

Mmm

Oh dear. But that must have cost more than a tenner? Maybe she needed the tenner back to put towards the thank you present she was getting you for the car? Still a bit odd though. I'm not convinced she is as skint as she makes out.

It was a hamper she'd put together herself (not overly expensive items) with a 'thankyou for being a great friend' note. Feeling a bit ashamed of myself.

Well this is a lesson then.

Good friends are extremely rare, I think you should be grateful to have her in your life

Is she hasn't seen this she might now... it's on the Wright show

Really hope your friend doesn't find out this way. How awful for her if she does.

Oh my god, I know... I was actually watching it and had a mini heart attack when it came up on the screen.

I'm usually at deleting threads for privacy reasons, but this is a prime candidate now the scum are sniffing round it.

Surely it's a bit too late now

Not if friend hasn't actually seen it.

It was only a short piece so hopefully not

Good friendships can involve occasional misunderstandings. It sounds as if this was one - and also, it seems to be sorted now. If it's gone public, at least it demonstrates that things like this can be resolved.

How did her car become a write off? Did insurance pay her after an accident? Did it stop running and the mechanics told her repair bill would be more than car is worth?

Honestly, her text was shit and good for you for not typing a snippy reply back (like yes I have the tenner you loaned me. Got the car I gifted you?) ... Your friend is obviously grateful and was planning on thanking you properly but timed her shite text badly.

I'd rather live off 9p cans of value beans for a week than have the gall to ask for a tenner on top of a car!